2014 League of Ireland.

[Longfordian]

Shels will stay up of there is still 2 divisions.

Oh yeah bit of a brain freeze from myself there.

[Acornvilla]

Cos they should have thown the game of course.

I wasn't saying they should throw anything sire, but it's a shame for them to seemingly fall to crap now after all they went through to survive.

[Charlie Darwin]

More great stuff from Conor Meade about Cobh. From his twitter: Such a shame to hear d carry on up in ramblers. A manager gettin paid n not giving a f.Club will be gone nx season cos of d dopes up dare

I assume he didn't go to Cobh because they were offering him an education.

[Pablo Escobar]

I assume he didn't go to Cobh because they were offering him an education.

You'd have to assume that alright.

[disgruntled]

More great stuff from Conor Meade about Cobh. From his twitter: Such a shame to hear d carry on up in ramblers. A manager gettin paid n not giving a f.Club will be gone nx season cos of d dopes up dare

Perhaps he'd be better off to stay away from twitter & concentrate on his football.

[mcgonigle]

I assume he didn't go to Cobh because they were offering him an education.

How there you make those assumptions!

[oriel]

Opening weekend should be good enough crowds, hopefully, we can continue this on the 2014 attendance thread when it opens. Some decent matches:

Cork v Pats
Rovers v Derry
Sligo v Athlone (Sat)
Drogs v DLK
Limerick v Bray
UCD v Bohs

I've listed these in order on what I think the biggest crowds will be, Cork always start very positively through the gate, and as they are playing the league champions, i think that might get the biggest crowd of the first weekend, possibly just over 3k?

Rovers probably next, hard to know what they will get on opening night, but would imagine close to 3k?

Sligo should break 2k for their first game.

The Louth derby probably would too if the ground was bigger, I think it's restricted to 2k max.

Limerick v Bray, hard to call, hopefully the novelty factor is not lost, and fans will stick with them, 1.5k ?

Finally UCD v Bohs, if this gets over 1k, it's probably a good crowd.

[SkStu]

It's Rovers that have the second team, oriel...

[Charlie Darwin]

Rovers probably next, hard to know what they will get on opening night, but would imagine close to 3k?

4,000 last year and that was week 2. Even allowing for growing apathy, I'd still be shocked if the decrease was anything close to 25%.

[Longfordian]

It's Rovers that have the second team, oriel...

They do say you never know which Bohs will turn up*



*They probably don't

[oriel]

4,000 last year and that was week 2. Even allowing for growing apathy, I'd still be shocked if the decrease was anything close to 25%.

Didn't realise Rovers hit 4k for that game CD, apologies.

Well, there is only one way for fans of all clubs to make a difference and that's by attending the games in high numbers.

Be great to see big numbers out on the first weekend to kick things off.

FD fans forgive me, but no fixtures out, so obviously can't post anything.

[SkStu]

They do say you never know which Bohs will turn up*



*They probably don't

Well if they don't, they should.

[nigel-harps1954]

FD fans forgive me, but no fixtures out, so obviously can't post anything.

Poor excuse. Easily predicted.

Galway v Harps
Shamrock rovers b v Shels
Cobh v Waterford
Longford v Wexford

[wonder88]

Galway will get at least 1500 for that game against Harps, and I expect 1k at Shamrock R v Shels on the sunday if the day is dry.

[outspoken]

Poor excuse. Easily predicted.

Galway v Harps
Shamrock rovers b v Shels
Cobh v Waterford
Longford v Wexford

F*ck me when ya look at that it would depress the hell out of ya, what a graveyard.

[nigel-harps1954]

F*ck me when ya look at that it would depress the hell out of ya, what a graveyard.

Well, to put it this way, it's already better than last season. Shelbourne, Galway and Shamrock Rovers 'B' are bigger draws than Athlone, Mervue and Salthill respectively.

[Dodge]

F*ck me when ya look at that it would depress the hell out of ya, what a graveyard.

All of them bar Wexford (and Rovers B obviously) have been in the premier in the last 5/6 years. Not a bad bunch at all IMO

[Longfordian]

All of them bar Harps (and Rovers B obviously) have been in the premier in the last 5/6 years. Not a bad bunch at all IMO

And Wexford.

[nigel-harps1954]

Last time in the Premier:

Cobh Ramblers - 2008
Finn Harps - 2008
Galway FC - n/a
Longford Town - 2007
Shelbourne - 2013
Shamrock Rovers 'B' - n/a
Waterford United - 2007
Wexford Youths - n/a

Safe to say, it's potentially going to be one of the tightest First Divisions we've seen in a long, long time. 2 more teams would make the world of a difference, but really, it's looking like the strongest First Division since the year we had Cork, Derry, Limerick and Shelbourne in it last.

[ATFC-1887]

Had to laugh. Galway and Rovers youth team are bigger draws than us. Ok Nigel. Still have your bitterness towards us We clearly showed 2nd half of last season that if we can do well we have big potential as a club. What more do you want Athlone to do for you to take us seriously ha